Joey Essex begged ITV bosses to join Love Island – but viewers are fuming millionaire star got Sam axed

They may be busy soaking up the sun and 'going for chats' in the Love Island villa, but the 2024 cast have also waved goodbye - perhaps temporarily - to their careers for a summer of love. As the eleventh series of Love Island continues to bring us more drama, bombshells and dumpings, OK! takes a look at what the Islanders did for work before becoming the stars who grace our TV screens every evening. Not only is there reality TV royalty starring on the show but there's also a mental health nurse, a semi-pro footballer and a HR coordinator.

Love Island's Samantha Kenny and Patsy Field have shown they're not letting getting dumped from the villa get them down.The girls, who started in the original cast of the 2024 ITV2 show earlier this month, were spotted out partying in London together with friends.The group enjoyed watching Girls Aloud from a box on Saturday night. Patsy, 29, posted a video of Samantha, 26, dancing and singing along to their hit song Love Machine. Later on she shared an update from a taxi, showing the party carrying on as passengers including Liverpudlian Sam, singing and dancing in the car.

It's hotting up in the Love Island villa - particularly in Joey Essex’s bed, as the TOWIE star smooches up a storm with bombshell Grace Jackson. While the couple, who originally met on holiday and briefly dated , claim they haven’t seen each other in over a year, recently dumped islanders Munveer and Patsy aren’t so sure that’s true. Speaking exclusively to OK!'s Love Island Dumping Debrief - OK!'s weekly video series where the 2024 cash unpack the latest drama from the series - Patsy and Munveer gave their opinion on what they think about Joey and Grace’s romance.

Two brand-new and stunning, bombshells Matilda June-Draper and Konnor Ewudzi have entered into the Love Island villa. However, within just seconds of their arrival, they’ve already stirred up drama for one couple. Ronnie Vint who has famously been in love triangles since he first came into the villa shockingly declared he knows new girl Matilda.

Samantha Kenny's mum has taken a swipe at Joey Essex for 'ruining' her daughter's experience on Love Island after she was brutally dumped from the villa.The 26 year old was sent home on Tuesday, 18 June, after she was left single following a recoupling around the fire pit. The beauty entered the Love Island villa on day one and after the shock arrival of TOWIE star Joey Essex, the pair coupled up. Despite highs and lows, Samantha and Joey remained as a couple for around two weeks and in Love Island terms - that's pretty serious.

The drama in Love Island is about to reach boiling point - with a massive never seen before twist. In Sunday 16 June's episode, the latest bombshell Grace Jackson stirs things up when she receives a tantalising text that announces, "Grace, Tiffany and Will, It's time to pack a bag and get ready for a night away with an Islander of your choice.

Things could get very complicated in the Love Island villa very soon, as 25 year old bombshell Grace Jackson is set to stir things up during her entrance to the villa this week.The blonde beauty is one of three new bombshells – along with Wil Anderson and Tiffany Leighton – who have entered the villa, and it turns out that Grace knows not just one, but two of the current Islanders. Grace, who co-owns a social media marketing agency in Manchester and also works as a model, is Joey Essex’s ex, with the pair having dated for six weeks earlier this year.

Three new arrivals are set to rock the villa in tonight's episode.The Islanders are enjoying a special brunch in the sunshine when peace is interrupted with the shock arrival of three new bombshells, Grace, Tiffany and Will. As the three newcomers enter, Joey Essex is particularly shocked and says: “Oh my God.” Turning to Sean, Joey says: “I used to see that girl bruv…that blonde girl.” Sensing something is off, Samantha says to Joey: “Do you know her?” to which he says: “Yeah…it’s a long story man…” Samantha continues to ask: “Did you used to see her?” As the girls get to know the newcomers, Nicole asks Grace: “So how do you know Joey then? Revealing what happened between them, Grace says: “So, we met last year in Ibiza and it's actually funny because he's not my type at all. We had a bit of a holiday romance.

It’s been five years since Chris Taylor first rose to fame on Love Island and, while he may not have found love on the show, he has had one heck of a ride ever since. After his appearance raised Chris’s profile and even led to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role in the hit movie Barbie, the 33-year-old returned to the villa for a second go at romance in January in Love Island: All Stars. And with the iconic dating show back on our screens, Chris chats exclusively about what life on the ITV2 show is really like – from queuing for cameras to leaving the villa for cheat meals.

Food is pretty a big deal in the Love Island villa - but for one Islander they couldn't wait to escape and go on a hunt for a McDonald's. Former contestant Chris Taylor - who also shot to fame in the Barbie movie - revealed that on their 'days off' the boys and girls would separate, and the boys would be on the lookout for some junk food. Chris, who first appeared on Love Island season five and later on the spin-off All Stars series this year, said: "They made us eat out of troughs like pigs [in the villa]! Nah, I’m only joking, it’s just pretty standard catering.

Two Love Island stars may be packing their bags and signing up for a very different type of adventure, as it has been reported they are lined up to appear in this year’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. According to The Sun, the two ex-Islanders competing in the series known as TV’s toughest reality show will be Chloe Burrows, who appeared on Love Island in 2021, and Adam Collard, who was on the dating series in 2018 and 2022.

Recently, Love Island fans have been questioning Joey Essex regarding a comment he made about his past stint on The Only Way Is Essex to his fellow islanders.

It turns out even paradise has laws, as the Love Island villa has rules even the most notorious players have to observe. However, that hasn’t stopped some islanders from trying to get around them. This year's Love Islanders will have to stick to these strict rules for the next two months or risk being booted from the villa: No getting drunk Contestants are limited to two drinks a night so that they do not start acting out of character on TV, or end up in a non consensual sexual situation.

Joey Essex's former flame and TOWIE co-star Jess Wright has spilled the tea on his surprise Love Island appearance.The reality TV heartthrob, known for his cheeky charm, sent shockwaves through the villa and among viewers when he strutted into the Love Island scene this Monday. It's been mere days since Joey's grand entrance, yet he's already stirring up a storm, causing a stir with his antics on the popular ITV2 romance show. Joey is currently coupled up with Samantha Kenny, from Liverpool, but both contestants have said they'll speak to other people if they come into the villa.

Joey Essex made a star-studded arrival into the Love Island villa earlier this week, making history as the first ever celebrity bombshell to appear on the ITV reality dating show.

Katie Price has slammed Joey Essex’s stint in the Love Island villa. The TOWIE legend became the first celebrity bombshell to enter the villa on Monday 3 June, but it doesn’t looks like everyone approves of his decision. "I don't think it was a good move for him,” the former glamour model said on her podcast, The Kate Price Show.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. New bombshells have entered the villa. Season 11 of “Love Island,” which kicked off on Monday night, will again see contestants competing for love in Mallorca, Spain where they’ll be joined by host Maya Jama who took over from Laura Whitmore in 2022.

Love Island bosses are reportedly lining up a second celebrity bombshell to join the hit dating show. Abbie Quinnen, 27, who is the ex-girlfriend of Strictly Come Dancing pro AJ Pritchard, is reportedly preparing to enter the famous villa. A source told The Sun: “Abbie has become well-known in her own right and after her break up with AJ she fancied a fresh chance at love.

Joey Essex's family have expressed their shock at his unexpected appearance on Love Island.The TOWIE star, known for a host of reality TV appearances, stunned the public with his surprise debut as the first bombshell on the popular dating show. Despite claiming he's in search of a wife in the villa, Joey, 33, managed to keep his Majorcan adventure a secret even from his close family members, including his cousin and former co-star, Chloe Sims.

Love Island fans were left demanding to know 'what the point' was in dumping one of the new batch of islanders just 24 hours after they entered the villa. A new batch of singletons made their way to Spain in the hope of finding love as the show returned on Monday night (June 3).